Page 45 of Unstoppable Love

Ava scoffed, bent down, and snagged her purse. “I don’t believe you.”

“You will.”

I was still in the doorway, and she faced me. All five feet, four inches of her, fuming all over again. It was less now, though. Like my arrow had landed, made her less mad.

“Move,” she growled.

“I feel like we’ve been here before.” God, I was a dick. It couldn’t be helped. Even now, when I knew I should have let her go, I couldn’t not be a smart-ass.

Her eyes flared with anger, and her lip curled back.

I leaned in before she could say anything. “Come talk to me. Listen to me. Give me a chance to make this right.”

Behind her, Grams yawned. It was loud, obnoxious, and totally fake, but she closed her eyes and laid her head back. “I need some rest. You two should go.”

I glared at the woman. “I’m not through with you yet, either.”

She opened her eyes long enough to wink at me. “Didn’t think you were.”

“I’m not going anywhere to talk to you.”

I could have been the nice guy. The guy who backed up and let her leave, but that wasn’t me. I didn’t have time to play it that way. “You agree to come with me, or I’m throwing you over my shoulder and hauling you out of here, straight to my truck.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Wanna bet? With Shudabaker at the front desk, I figure she’d enjoy seeing that. Thrill of her day.”

Ava’s eyes narrowed, nostrils flared, and I was pretty sure there was a puff of steam rising from the top of her head. “Where?”

“The creek. And I’m following you, so don’t think you can outrun me.”

“Have a lovely day, you too,” Grams called, hiding another yawn. “Enjoy the sunshine.”

Ava twisted her neck and glared at her great-grandmother. All the fight left her when she spun back. “Fine, but I’m not staying long.”

Chapter 14

Ava

I wasn’t stupid. There was no way I’d get away from Cameron, not when he had his I’m determined to win face on. I wasn’t going to keep fighting with him in the hallway of the retirement community. And there was no way I was going to let Mrs. Shudabaker see me being carted out of there with my ass up and thrown over Cameron’s shoulder.

The entire town would be talking about it by lunchtime.

Besides, my Honda Civic, newer as it may be, was no match for outrunning Cameron’s truck. I might have speed on my side, but he wouldn’t hesitate to go four-wheeling through lawns if he thought he could catch me.

He might be a liar and a jerk, but I spent more time studying him than I did studying my school homework.

So, fine. I’d go to the creek. I’d listen, again, to what he had to say.

I’d listen for Grams.

And then I’d leave.

His season was starting. It wasn’t like he was going to be in town long. Or often.

I had to get through the day, and then I could go back to the life I was trying to start rebuilding.

I turned off the main road and pulled onto a dirt road. Dust from the dry roads flew up. Dirt and pebbles kicked up at my undercarriage, making the last half-mile drive sound like I was driving over a long roll of bubble wrap. Behind me, Cameron kept a close distance, but at least he hadn’t ridden my tail the entire way, and when I got to where the road ended, I pulled off to the side and parked. The creek was a walk from here, but only paths worn from hikers and rowdy teenagers could take us there.

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